# Plateop · United Kingdom

> Independent buying advice on used cars. You enter a number plate; we combine the available vehicle data with an assessment and deliver a verdict, questions for the seller, points to check on the test drive and arguments for the negotiation.

- Official source for the vehicle data: DVSA MOT History, MOT test history and odometer consistency check.
- Official source for the recall data: DVSA MOT History, vehicle-specific recall flag included in the same lookup (not a separate database).
- What we can see in this country: the vehicle data from the register, the full MOT inspection history with defects, an odometer-consistency verdict based on the mileage history, the validity of the MOT, and open manufacturer recalls for this specific vehicle.
- What we cannot see: damage or title history, liens, CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, weight and power, maintenance history and the current condition of the car.
- Prices in GBP. Languages: English.

## Key pages
- [Home](https://uk.plateop.com): what the service does and what you get
- [Buying guides](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen): practical buying guides with sources and a consulted date per guide

## Buying guides
- [Dealer or private seller in the UK: your rights differ](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/buying-from-dealer-vs-private-uk): UK dealers owe satisfactory quality and 30 days to reject a car. Private sellers only have to match the description, under a different, older law.
- [What paid history checks cover that free UK checks do not](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/hpi-check-vs-free-checks): Free GOV.UK checks show MOT history, mileage and tax status. Outstanding finance, stolen markers and write-off status sit only in paid checks.
- [How do you spot an imported car in the UK?](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/imported-car-uk): DVLA labels a vehicle's age or identity as uncertain only via a Q plate, mostly for damaged imports. A clean import usually gets an ordinary plate.
- [How to check a mileage reading in the UK](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/mileage-check-uk): DVSA records a car's mileage at every MOT test since 2005; a reading lower than a previous test is the clearest sign of a rolled-back odometer.
- [What the free MOT history check shows, and what it hides](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/mot-history-what-it-shows): DVSA's free MOT history checker lists every UK test since 2005 with mileage and defect severity, but a car under three years old has no history yet.
- [Questions to ask a UK car seller](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/questions-for-uk-seller): Before viewing a UK car, its MOT history, tax status, recalls and V5C details are checkable for free against DVSA and DVLA records.
- [How to check outstanding recalls on a UK car](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/recalls-check-uk): DVSA runs two free recall checks: a flag inside your MOT history and a make-and-model lookup covering all recalls since 1992.
- [V5C logbook checks before you buy](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/v5c-logbook-checks): The V5C proves who's the registered keeper, not who owns the car. DVLA's own buying checklist starts with matching it to their record.
- [Odometer fraud: how to spot a clocked car before you sign](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/odometer-fraud): A 2018 European Parliament study estimates that 5-12% of domestic used-car sales and 30-50% of cross-border sales involve odometer fraud.
- [What a vehicle history check reveals, and what it can't](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/vehicle-history-check): A vehicle history check pulls together title, odometer and salvage records, but cannot reveal unreported accidents or current mechanical condition.
- [Red flags in used-car listings: how to spot a scam ad](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/listing-red-flags): Scam listings share a few consistent tactics: a price well below market, avoiding in-person meetings, and payment requests outside traceable channels.
- [Accident damage and total loss: how to find hidden repairs](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/hidden-accident-damage): Factory paint typically measures 100-180 microns thick; a panel reading clearly different from its neighbors is the strongest sign of a hidden repair.
- [The 15-point used-car inspection checklist](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/inspection-checklist): A thorough used-car inspection covers 15 checkable points across the exterior, interior, engine bay and paperwork, and takes about 30-45 minutes.
- [The test-drive checklist: what to test and what a test drive can't tell you](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/test-drive-checklist): A thorough test drive covers seven phases over at least 20-30 minutes on varied roads, but it cannot reveal a car's accident or ownership history.
- [Buying from a private seller vs. a dealer: risks and protections](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/private-vs-dealer): In the US, private sellers aren't covered by the FTC's Used Car Rule that requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide disclosing warranty terms.
- [How to read a service history, and which gaps are dealbreakers](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/service-history): Gaps that overlap expensive components like a timing belt or clutch matter most; a missing service book is not automatically a dealbreaker.
- [How to avoid overpaying for a used car](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/fair-price): CARFAX research into used-car scams flags a below-market asking price as one of the most common signals of a seller hiding a problem.
- [Buying a used EV: how to check battery health first](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/ev-battery-health): Geotab's 2026 analysis of over 22,700 EVs found average battery degradation of about 2.3% capacity loss per year, with fast-charging roughly doubling it.
- [Buying a used hybrid: what to check before you buy](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/used-hybrid-guide): Consumer Reports found hybrids had 15% fewer reported problems than gas-only cars, but J.D. Power's 2026 study found the opposite result.
- [The most reliable cars according to the major 2026 studies](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/most-reliable-cars-2026): Every major reliability study covers one country and measures reliability differently, so their results cannot be merged into a single ranking.
- [The safest cars of 2026: what Euro NCAP and IIHS ratings really mean](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/safest-cars-2026): Euro NCAP tests European market-spec cars and IIHS tests US and Canadian market-spec cars under different protocols, so their ratings cannot be compared.
- [EV range explained: why WLTP and EPA numbers differ](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/ev-range-wltp-epa): WLTP range figures typically read about 10-15% higher than EPA figures for a comparable electric car, because the two use different test procedures.
- [Buying a car across borders: the extra risks of imports](https://uk.plateop.com/gidsen/cross-border-imports): A 2018 European Parliament study estimated 30-50% of cross-border used-car sales involved odometer manipulation, versus 5-12% for domestic sales.

## Models
- [Volkswagen Golf Mk7](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/golf/mk7-2012)
- [Volkswagen Passat B8](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/passat/b8-2014)
- [Volkswagen Tiguan 2](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/tiguan/2-2016)
- [Volkswagen Tiguan 3](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/tiguan/3-2023)
- [Ford Fiesta Mk7](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/fiesta/mk7-2008)
- [Ford Fiesta Mk8](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/fiesta/mk8-2017)
- [Ford Focus Mk3](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/focus/mk3-2010)
- [Ford Focus Mk4](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/focus/mk4-2018)
- [Toyota Yaris Mk3](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/yaris/mk3-2011)
- [Toyota Yaris Mk4](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/yaris/mk4-2020)
- [Toyota Corolla 12](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/corolla/12-2019)
- [Toyota RAV4 5](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/rav4/5-2018)
- [Honda Civic 10](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/honda/civic/10-2016)
- [Honda Civic 11](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/honda/civic/11-2022)
- [Kia Sportage 5](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/kia/sportage/5-2021)
- [Kia Niro 1](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/kia/niro/1-2016)
- [Kia Niro 2](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/kia/niro/2-2022)
- [Fiat 500 2](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/fiat/500/2-2007)
- [Hyundai Tucson NX4](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/hyundai/tucson/nx4-2020)
- [HYUNDAI KONA 2018](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/hyundai/kona/2018)
- [Volkswagen Golf Mk5](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/golf/mk5-2003)
- [Volkswagen Golf Mk6](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/golf/mk6-2008)
- [Volkswagen Golf Mk8](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/golf/mk8-2019)
- [Volkswagen ID.4 1](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volkswagen/id-4/1-2020)
- [BMW 3 Series E90](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/3-series/e90-2005)
- [Audi A4 B9](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/audi/a4/b9-2015)
- [Audi Q3 F3](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/audi/q3/f3-2018)
- [Volvo XC40 1](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volvo/xc40/1-2017)
- [Volvo XC60 2](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volvo/xc60/2-2017)
- [Mazda Mazda3 4 (BP)](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mazda/mazda3/4-bp-2018)
- [Mazda CX-5 2 (KF)](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mazda/cx-5/2-kf-2016)
- [FORD C-MAX E13*2001/116*0109](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/c-max/e13-2001-116-0109-2007)
- [FORD C-MAX gen-2012](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/ford/c-max/gen-2012-2012)
- [TOYOTA C-HR 2016](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/c-hr/2016)
- [TOYOTA TOYOTA PRIUS PHV gen-2004](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/prius/gen-2004-2004)
- [TOYOTA TOYOTA PRIUS PHV gen-2014](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/toyota/prius/gen-2014-2014)
- [KIA RIO gen-2001](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/kia/rio/gen-2001-2001)
- [KIA RIO gen-2011](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/kia/rio/gen-2011-2011)
- [BMW 3 Series F30](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/3-series/f30-2011)
- [BMW 3 Series G20](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/3-series/g20-2019)
- [BMW X1 F48](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x1/f48-2015)
- [BMW X1 U11](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x1/u11-2022)
- [BMW 220D ACTIVE TOURER 2014](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/2-series/2014)
- [BMW 518 AUTOMATIC 1982](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/5-series/1982)
- [BMW X3 2.5SI E1*2001/116*0249](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x3/e1-2001-116-0249-2006)
- [BMW X3 2.5SI E1*2007/46*0512](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x3/e1-2007-46-0512-2012)
- [BMW X3 2.5SI E1*2007/46*1797](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x3/e1-2007-46-1797-2019)
- [BMW X3 2.5SI E1*2018/858*00409](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x3/e1-2018-858-00409-2024)
- [BMW X5 xDrive45e gen-2009](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x5/gen-2009-2009)
- [BMW X5 xDrive45e gen-2019](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/bmw/x5/gen-2019-2019)
- [MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 200 2013](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mercedes-benz/cla/2013)
- [AUDI A5 Cabriolet 2008](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/audi/a5/2008)
- [AUDI A6 ALLROAD QUATTRO 1999](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/audi/a6/1999)
- [AUDI Q5 SPORTBACK 55 TFSI E 2009](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/audi/q5/2009)
- [VOLVO V70 AWD 1997-2016](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volvo/v70/1997-2016)
- [VOLVO XC90 E9*2001/116*0046](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volvo/xc90/e9-2001-116-0046-2003)
- [VOLVO XC90 E4*2007/46*0929](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/volvo/xc90/e4-2007-46-0929-2014)
- [MAZDA MAZDA2 gen-2003](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mazda/mazda2/gen-2003-2003)
- [MAZDA MAZDA2 gen-2015](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mazda/mazda2/gen-2015-2015)
- [LAND ROVER Range Rover Sport 1987](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/land-rover/range-rover/1987)
- [MINI COOPER 2003](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mini/cooper/2003)
- [MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER gen-2003](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mitsubishi/outlander/gen-2003-2003)
- [MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER E1*2018/858*00511](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/mitsubishi/outlander/e1-2018-858-00511-2020)
- [SUZUKI SX4 2006-2022](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/suzuki/sx4/2006-2022)
- [TESLA Model 3 2019](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/tesla/model-3/2019)
- [TESLA MODEL Y 2021](https://uk.plateop.com/modellen/tesla/model-y/2021)

## Other countries
- [Plateop](https://plateop.com/landenkiezer): country selector on the bare domain: all 24 countries, each with its own official source, language and currency

## Sitemap
- [Sitemap](https://uk.plateop.com/sitemap.xml): complete list of indexable pages on this host, with every language variant